Description

Director of Policy and Government Affairs

• Location
  Springfield, Illinois
• Office
  Office of State Public Defender
• Posted Date
  October 5, 2026
• Benefits
  An attractive benefits package is offered, including pension, medical, dental, vision and life insurance, as well as deferred compensation and generous leave time.
• Salary
  $158,880 to $166,332

The Office of State Public Defender (OSPD) will be created as an independent office within the judicial branch on January 1, 2027. The 2025 FAIR Act, Public Act 104-0300, created the Office to provide for an effective public defense system throughout the State of Illinois. OSPD is charged with implementing uniform standards for trial-level public defense; systematically evaluating local needs and capacity; offering specialized support to local jurisdictions (i.e., investigation, mitigation, and expert witness assistance); and establishing clear and equitable procedures for distributing the Public Defender Fund, among other duties to ensure consistent, equitable, and high-quality defense services.

The Director of Policy and Government Affairs directs the legislative and intergovernmental affairs of the Office of the State Public Defender (OSPD), including working with other departments, elected officials, agencies, clients, former clients, and directly impacted communities, and community-based organizations to advance the OSPD's strategic goals and initiatives.

The Director works to ensure that OSPD's legislative, policy, and government affairs priorities are informed by the experiences, perspectives, and needs of the people and communities served by Illinois' public defense system. This position leads the design, development, and implementation of strategies on issues impacting client representation and broader justice reforms. The Director of Policy and Government Affairs works with considerable independence and exercises professional judgement under the general supervision of the Deputy State Public Defender.

SALARY, BENEFITS & LOCATION:

The position is located in Springfield, Illinois. This position's headquarter location could change based on future operational needs.

The salary is commensurate with experience. The salary range for this position is $158,880 to $166,332.

Current Available Shift:

The required working hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. The State Public Defender, in his or her discretion, may potentially approve a hybrid work schedule.

An attractive benefits package is offered, including pension, medical, dental, vision and life insurance, as well as deferred compensation and generous leave time. Information about benefits provided by OSPD can be found here:

State Employee General Benefits

OSPD Summary of Benefits

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Develop and maintain meaningful working relationships with current and former public defense clients, directly impacted individuals, families, justice-involved communities, community-based organizations, advocates, and other stakeholders to inform the Office's legislative and policy priorities and build support for those priorities.
• Develop and maintain processes for obtaining meaningful and ongoing input from clients, former clients, directly impacted communities, and other stakeholders regarding proposed legislation, administrative policies, implementation strategies, and emerging policy priorities.
• Work collaboratively with OSPD advisory bodies, committees, councils, working groups, and other internal and external stakeholder bodies to identify policy issues, develop recommendations, solicit feedback, and incorporate relevant recommendations into the Office's legislative and policy agenda.
• Ensure that relevant client and community perspectives are presented to OSPD leadership when significant legislative, policy, or implementation decisions are being considered, including areas in which stakeholder perspectives differ from a proposed Office position.
• Create mechanisms for communicating back to clients, community stakeholders, committees, and advisory bodies regarding how their input was considered and, where appropriate, incorporated into OSPD policy and legislative priorities.
• Collaborate with public defenders and other frontline personnel to identify systemic issues affecting client representation and translate those experiences, together with client and community input, into legislative, administrative, and policy recommendations.
• Recommend, draft, and coordinate legislative initiatives that advance the State Public Defender’s policies and strategic initiatives and the methods, processes, and procedures to advocate and build support for those initiatives.
• Serve as the in-house governmental affairs and legislative affairs liaison with various federal, state, and local elected officials and offices.
• Advise the State Public Defender and senior leadership of the legal and policy ramifications of existing, pending, or proposed legislation.
• Manage the development of strategies, programs, specialized initiatives, and projects to achieve the State Public Defender’s goals and priorities.
• Develop working relationships with community organizations, advocates, non-profit organizations, and government agencies to build support for and collaboration towards achieving the State Public Defender’s policy priorities.
• Represent the OSPD in legislative hearings, meetings, and other matters.
• Serve as a liaison on various committees, councils, and commissions associated with juvenile or criminal justice policies or legislation.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree or higher.
• Five (5) years in a legislative body, in legislative affairs, in government office, as a lobbyist, or directly related experience.
• Three (3) years of prior supervisory experience.
• Must possess a valid Illinois driver’s license and demonstrate proof of automobile insurance to operate a personal vehicle on state business, as well as maintain a safe driving record.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Graduation from an accredited law school with a Juris Doctorate (JD) or masters degree from an accredited university in public policy, public administration, social work, criminal justice/criminology or a related field.
• Experience as a practicing attorney or related experience in an organization, office, or agency providing public defense or other legal services to indigent clients.
• A license to practice law in the State of Illinois.

OTHER KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES:

• Comprehensive understanding of criminal and juvenile law, national trends in indigent defense, and the operations of the criminal and juvenile court systems in Illinois.
• Demonstrated ability to engage respectfully and effectively with clients, former clients, directly impacted individuals, families, and justice-involved communities and to translate their experiences and perspectives into policy development and institutional decision-making.
• Ability to facilitate inclusive stakeholder engagement, including navigating differing perspectives among clients, defenders, advocates, policymakers, community organizations, and other justice-system stakeholders.
• Understanding of client-centered, community-informed, and trauma-informed approaches to policy development and systems reform.
• Ability to build processes that meaningfully incorporate stakeholder input into policy development, implementation, and evaluation rather than limiting engagement to consultation or outreach.
• Knowledge of political processes in the State and County governments, particularly the Illinois General Assembly.
• Ability to initiate, establish, and maintain effective relationships with advocates, coalitions, community members, government agencies, lawmakers, and other stakeholders.
• Ability to make policy recommendations as they relate to legislative priorities, operations of the office, and programmatic policies, goals, and priorities.
• Ability to understand and communicate complex legal issues and policy impacts through exceptional verbal, written, and electronic communication skills.
• Ability to solve complex problems that have long-term impact on the organization and its mission.
• Ability to travel to various work assignments throughout the State.
• Flexible and responsive to evolving needs.

WORKING CONDITIONS/STRUCTURE:

• Ability to sit for extended time periods.
• Professional office working environment requiring telephone usage and ability to process written documents.

• Ability to travel, including overnight stays, as required. It is expected that this person may travel often to locations throughout the state and will need to spend significant time in Springfield.

HOW TO APPLY:

Interested individuals should submit a resume here. All jobs vacancy announcements and application links are also available here or at www.ilosps.gov/join-our-team.<...

A judicial branch application is not required to apply, but it will be required before final hiring decisions are made. The application can be downloaded from the Illinois Courts website here.

This position will remain open until filled. However, those individuals submitting materials by November 6, 2026, will be given first consideration.

Any questions about this position or the application process can be submitted via email at the following address: HR@ilosps.gov

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER